The enclosed enlightening conversation with Swami Turiyananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna took place on 15th July 1920. It was published in the Prabuddha Bharata Magazine and has been excerpted from there.
Swami Turiyananda: There is a mention of the Uttarayana (the six months of the sun’s northward passage) in the Mahabharata. Bhishma was waiting for the Uttarayana. By this no particular time is meant. It only shows that Bhishma had the power to die whenever he chose.
The scriptures do not mean by the word Uttarayana any time at all – it only means the Deva or angel identifying himself with that time. We can well understand this. It is like people coming forward to receive a distinguished visitor. I am reminded of an incident in this connection.
B. Babu got news that his father was ill. Before he reached the place, the gentleman had expired. As soon as he stepped into the room, he saw a shining figure. He wrote to me that perhaps it was his father waiting to meet him.
But suddenly the idea flashed in my mind that it might be some angel come there to escort the departing soul. B. Babu of course won’t tell an untruth. He is not the man to do so. Besides, I can very well understand such things as the following statement of the Gita:
“Fools do not perceive the soul when it departs from the body, or lives in it, or enjoys things through the help of the Gunas. But wise men see it doing all this.”
Swami Vivekananda used to say – “He who has seen a ghost is much greater that a mere book-learned Pundit”, because he has got an opportunity to form a conviction about the future life.
“I Came To Take Your Dog’s Soul” – When Amal Kiran’s dog died, his wife saw a faint form approach with outstretched arms and take the dog’s soul.
More Posts in the “Ghosts” Series:
- Part 1: Conversation With Ghosts – Stories from the Life of Swami Vivekananda – An intriguing story from the life of Swami Vivekananda during which he conversed with the souls of people who had committed suicide.
- Part 2: Do Ghosts Exist or is Seeing Ghosts a Sign of Delusion? – Do ghosts really exist or was India’s great guru Swami Vivekananda, hallucinating when speaking to the spirits of those who had committed suicide?
- Part 3: Do Ghosts Exist? Swami Vivekananda Sheds More Light On This Mystery – A fascinating conversation in which Swami Vivekananda answers his disciple’s query: “Do ghosts exist? Have you ever seen spirits?”
- Part 4: The Ghost Tamer Whom Swami Vivekananda Transformed With a Mere Touch – Swami Vivekananda transforms a man with occult powers over ghosts, into a spiritual person with a tremendous desire to see God.
- Part 5: The Mysterious Pelting of Stones Which Disturbed Swami Brahmananda – Two incidents from the life of Swami Brahmananda, in which a distressed spirit and a luminous saint employ some unusual means to catch his attention.
- VIDEO: 5 Reasons Why Some People Become Ghosts After Death – How do we avoid getting trapped as a ghost after death? Critical life lessons from the sages of Vedanta to smoothen the transition at death.
- VIDEO: Reincarnation | MIND Accompanies the Soul After Death – It is a little known fact that the mind accompanies the soul after death. It is only because of this fact that it is possible for people to remember their past lives.
- VIDEO: Cremation or Burial | Which is Better for the Departed Soul? – The little understood reason why the Vedic sages with their deep knowledge of the soul’s journey after death, preferred cremation over burial.
- VIDEO: Help! I’m Scared of Ghosts | Top 10 Questions About Ghosts Answered – Scared of ghosts? Afraid spirits lurking in the dark will hurt you? Overcome your fear of ghosts through a rational understanding of life after death.
